Tax
The Günstigerprüfung (favourable-rate assessment) is an option in the tax return to have investment income taxed at your personal income-tax rate instead of the 25 per cent flat capital-gains tax, whenever that works out cheaper.
The Günstigerprüfung is an option you exercise in the tax return via Anlage KAP. If you request it, your investment income is taxed at your personal income-tax rate instead of the flat 25 per cent Abgeltungsteuer.
This is worthwhile when your personal rate is below 25 per cent, for instance with a low taxable income. On request, the tax office carries out the assessment automatically and applies whichever option is cheaper for the taxpayer.
If your personal rate is higher than 25 per cent, the flat capital-gains tax stands and the request creates no disadvantage. Whether the favourable-rate assessment pays off in a given case depends on your overall income situation (as at 2025).
See taxes, dividends and allocation for your whole portfolio in one place.